Rp. 12 Billion for Bali's Reforestation

Efforts Underway to Reforest Some of Bali's Vanishing Forests.

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(9/2/2006)

The Bali branch of the National Movement for the Rehabilitation of Jungles and Pastures (Gerhan) hopes that a recently allocated government fund of Rp. 12 billion (approximately US$1.3 million) can be used to restore some of Bali's jungle and natural pasturelands.

Members of Commission IV of the People's Consultative Assembly (DPR), Made Urip and Gde Sumarjaya Linggih, told the Indonesian language Bali Post that they "hoped the above funds could be supported by additional funds from the State Budget."

Linggih said that part of the US$1.3 million has been allocated for rehabilitating depleted areas of Bali that now total 6,000 hectares. Both legislators termed Baliís land use as being in a critical state, with wild land reserves now at 30% less than stipulated minimums due to diversion to agricultural purposes. As a result, Bali is suffering significant drought conditions as seen by former lake bottom at Danau Buyan now being used as a soccer field.

Meanwhile, legislators are promising to continue their efforts to urgently lobby for more funds to be allocated to jungle and natural pastureland rehabilitation.